The Review Magazine May / June 2021

Northern Field Report

Building A Case for Change for the Upper Peninsula!

By the Empower906 Team

A s a team of passionate U.P. natives, we are working to make our home a better place for generations to come. The team was created to turn things around for our U.P. communities by reversing the decline in our population trend and to adapt to the forces of technology and climate change. We are working with like-minded individuals and agencies to develop a framework which can be used by community planners to set priorities for the future. Our goal is to create a future vision for the entire U.P., create a critical mass, and integrate individual community contributions into a strategy to be used by all. Like barn raising, it is the integration of people’s energy and ideas that will enable this vision. The team’s founder, Kurt Lehmann, is a native of Kingsford, Michigan, who has spent 34 years in the automotive industry working on safety and efficiency technologies. As Corporate Technology Officer, he was responsible to develop and build engineering organizations in major cities around the world. Many of these cities and countries are experiencing similar challenges; however, these regions have attention and resources focused on their urban communities. Upon retiring and returning to the U.P., Kurt observed first-hand how global challenges were beginning to impact rural U.P. communities. Kurt saw two obstacles: lack of awareness of the impending challenges, and limited resources spread across the sparsely populated region. Empower906 was created as a means to get personally involved and engage others. Post WWII Decline For several decades following WWII, the U.P. was in decline due to the loss of mining and manufacturing jobs. This contributed to a decline in population, workforce, and quality housing which impacted the attractiveness of the area. Since 1980, the average age has also increased from 33 to 48 years old today. These factors result in local government revenues that are not keeping up with inflation. Other countries have seen similar issues (Japan, Germany, etc.) where government intervention was required to import workforce, incentivize childbearing, and pivot to new industries. The Empower906 team believes these challenges are not adequately addressed as our state government is focused on urban communities

because these concentrated hubs are more visible and enable easier policy deployment and investment. Furthermore, the U.P. economy relies heavily on tourism which is sensitive to the effects of both climate and economic change. We believe the U.P. can pivot to opportunities found within the technology and climate change challenges. By doing so, the U.P. can become a superior example of how rural communities can work together to plan for their future. This example will inspire other rural areas to take action and take control of their own future. Everyone in our northern region cares about our beautiful Upper Peninsula and we are focused on the legacy we leave for future generations. Many groups and associations are working diligently to support their community. The Empower906 goal is to integrate and concentrate our individual efforts and then share what we learn to create a path for everyone in the U.P. Skin in the Game but No Political Motives Empower906 is different. It does not represent any business and the team members aren’t politicians or investors looking to make a buck. Empower906 is a team of globally experienced locals volunteering to give a different perspective of the issues. We intend to gather proven solutions that are optimized through integration rather than sub-optimized based on one dimension, one political perspective, or personal gain. Empower906 is using data to make a clear Case for Change that highlights the challenges faced by the U.P. This is the starting point for a conversation to help everyone understand our responsibility to protect and ensure a bright future for the area we love. Many residents sense this responsibility and data will help them engage others to move us all forward. The case for change will help local leaders gain support on the road to creating more resilient, sustainable, and secure communities. The talent, financial, and natural resources already existing in the U.P. provide the tools needed to initiate positive change. The Empower906 team aims to outline solutions to prepare our U.P. communities for the long-term future, and that will ultimately attract people to live, work, and thrive in the U.P. Our region is in a great position to attract people that want to

38 THE REVIEW

MAY / JUNE 2021